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May 10, 2009

Gustie women heading to nationals

Gustavus turns tennis season around

By Shane Frederick

ST PETER — After the Gustavus Adolphus women’s tennis team swept the doubles matches during the third round of the NCAA team tournament Saturday, all eyes were on Ali O’Neal and Marianne Barau.

And with good reason.

“They haven’t lost the last month and a half,” Gusties coach Jon Carlson said.

Even with their teammates glancing around the Brown Outdoor Courts to see how they were doing, O’Neal and Barau didn’t disappoint, helping Gustavus defeat Wheaton 5-0 and advance to the national quarterfinals with straight-set victories.

Barau, playing at No. 5 singles, defeated Lindsey Hallett 6-2, 6-4, and O’Neal clinched the win with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Brittney Dunn.

“I knew we needed one more point,” said O’Neal, who transferred to Gustavus from Wisconsin-Milwaukee but spent her first semester studying abroad in Spain. “Marianne got off the court fast. I looked around and knew we needed one more.”

Indeed, the Gusties were down a set in three of the other singles matches, while a fourth was heading into a third set when O’Neal ended it.

In doubles play, O’Neal and Erica Dobson defeated Dunn and Kayli Edwards 8-2 in the No. 2 match, while Barau and Megan Gaard defeated Hallett and Sara Federschmidt 8-3 at No. 3 and Sierra Krebsbach and Sam Frank topped Jordan Hook and Elizabeth Worsowicz 8-6 at No. 1, giving Gustavus a 3-0 lead heading into singles action.

While the Gusties usually expect to be making reservations for the final weekend of the college tennis season, they weren’t so certain when it began.

“No, definitely not in February and March,” Carlson said. “This team has come a long way. They kept working hard and improving. It’s a team that wins with toughness. They’re good, but they made themselves good.”

O’Neal and Barau admitted it was a rough winter, as the Gusties dropped three of four matches in one stretch. Around spring break, they said, things started to turn in their favor.

“All the hard work has paid off,” Carlson said. “I probably pushed this team harder than I ever pushed before, and they really rose to the occasion.”

Said O’Neal: “It’s mental toughness. We know, when we step on the court, that we’re going to win.”

Gustavus (23-9) will play in the NCAA championships May 19-21 in Lawrenceville, Ga.

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